ARC Raiders Tops Google’s Most Searched Videogames of 2025 Leaving GTA VI in Seventh Place
Google has published its annual Year in Search 2025 report, and the gaming category delivered one of the most surprising results of the year. ARC Raiders, the extraction shooter from Embark Studios, claimed the number one spot as the most searched videogame of 2025 worldwide.
The top ranking places ARC Raiders ahead of massive global franchises and highly anticipated releases including Battlefield 6, Split Fiction, Clair Obscur Expedition 33, Path of Exile 2, Grand Theft Auto VI, Pokémon Legends Z A, Minecraft, and Roblox. Rounding out the Top 10 is Strands, the puzzle game by The New York Times, though its status as a non traditional videogame makes ARC Raiders’ performance even more striking.
GTA VI Drops to Seventh Following Multiple Delays
Perhaps the most unexpected detail is the placement of GTA VI, which ranked seventh despite being the most anticipated game of the decade. The decline is likely linked to the title’s turbulent year. Rockstar delayed GTA VI twice first from Fall 2025 to May 26, 2026, and then again to November 19, 2026. These setbacks seem to have diminished search interest as fans adjusted to a much longer wait than originally expected.
ARC Raiders’ Meteoric Rise Was Far From Predicted
The biggest headline, however, is Embark Studios’ breakthrough success. ARC Raiders spent much of its development cycle under the radar, generating minimal buzz until its Server Slam Test in late September. Initially conceived as a cooperative only experience, the game underwent significant redesign into a PvPvE extraction shooter, a format that has grown rapidly in popularity.
The redesign paid off. ARC Raiders sold over four million units in just twelve days, marking NEXON’s most successful global launch ever. According to third party analytics from Alinea, the title was Steam’s best selling game in November, and total multi platform sales have already surpassed 7.7 million units.
The explosive rise underscores the evolving dynamics of game discovery. While marketing pipelines still play an important role, the ARC Raiders phenomenon demonstrates the unparalleled impact of player driven momentum, internet virality, and social media amplification. Word of mouth remains one of gaming’s most powerful catalysts.
With more developers experimenting with surprise launches and shadowdrops a tactic Bethesda has openly embraced following the positive reception around Oblivion Remastered ARC Raiders may serve as proof that unconventional launch strategies can still produce massive hits when paired with a compelling product.
Did ARC Raiders’ success surprise you? Do you think shadowdrops and quieter marketing cycles are becoming the new trend? Share your thoughts below.
